Sacrifice is found at the heart of the Gospel. We know it. We see and celebrate it in the Easter story, but what does it mean for the Jesus-follower? Can we really follow in the footsteps of a savior who came ready to suffer and sacrifice and not be willing to do the same (Mark 10:45)? Seems unlikely, especially when those very attributes are also demonstrated patterns in the lives early Christians.

While the apostles spoke often about suffering and sacrificing for Christ, in the comfort of our wealthy western culture, these are not common, modern realities. On one hand, I’m thankful, on the other, I think the ease with which we live has created a knockoff version of Christianity – one that claims blessings, clamors for individual rights and considers cross-bearing an accessory. In short, many Christians have settled for a counterfeit.

About a year ago, I was prepping for a Bible Study when I encountered an incredibly challenging passage of Scripture. It requires a bit of context, so let me provide the backdrop.

Acts chapter 15 highlights a church council called in Jerusalem because some in the church were arguing that Gentile converts still needed to be circumcised in observance of the law. Others, including Paul, presented testimony of God moving among the Gentiles and reminded those present that salvation is through God’s grace (Acts 15:11). Paul later reiterates the concept when he writes to the church in Rome (Romans 2:28-29). Thus, the church firmly settled and Scripture clearly teaches that circumcision was not required of Gentile converts.

Ok, so why does this matter? Because one chapter later in Acts 16:1-3, Paul has Timothy circumcised:

“1Paul went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek. 2The brothers and sisters at Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him. 3Paul wanted Timothy to go with him; so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek.”

If circumcision was not required, why did Paul encourage Timothy towards this practice? Is it a contradiction? Is Paul a hypocrite? Luke, the author of Acts, gives us the reason in verse three when he explains that it was so Timothy could have gospel effectiveness among the Jews.

Timothy, certainly did not need to be circumcised for the sake of his own faith. Said another way, Timothy had every right not to be circumcised.  This then, is the gospel pattern of laying down rights and accepting great personal sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. From Paul and Timothy’s perspective, what personal cost could be worth more than someone coming to faith?

What price was too high for Christ to ransom us (Philippians 2:5-8)?

But if our lives have been purchased at such a great cost (1 Cor. 6:20, 1 Peter 1:18-19), then why do we spend so much of our money, time and energy serving ourselves? Please don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that we only live the true gospel if or when we suffer, but that said, living in a kingdom-minded way should result in some personal sacrifice. How could it not?

Salvation was never meant to be treated like membership to a spiritual country club where we enjoy a leisurely affiliation until we die. We are meant to hear the gospel and then go live the gospel (James 1:22). The problem is that loving our neighbors, serving the poor, caring for the oppressed and tending to orphans and widows (James 1:27 – 2:8), is costly. Oh sure, we may give monetarily to ministries, but I would suggest that personally living the gospel costs us our most precious commodity – time.

But anything less costly might just be an imitation.  

So, we come again to the example of Timothy. If, as Jesus followers, our lives are not our own, then what personal sacrifice might Christ ask of us for the sake of kingdom effectiveness? What personal sacrifice or testimony forged through suffering might He leverage for the sake of someone else’s eternity?

These are daunting questions that require prayerful consideration. One thing is for sure though. This type of gospel living is all consuming… but then again, I think that might be the point.